Tag: Music Education

Categories
Artist Advice Business Advice Editorials Industry News News

5 YouTube channels everyone in music should follow

Want the benefits of a music business education without the debt of student loans? YouTube is the answer.

YouTube channels are the new blogs. Actually, YouTube channels are better than most blogs. The content creators working on the video platform today can convey complex information in entertaining ways that create a more enjoyable learning experience for everyone. Whether you’re hoping to be the next music superstar or hope to work in the industry, YouTube is filled with experts offering the benefits of their experience and education without any of the cost or hard times.

For virtually nothing, anyone on the planet can access more hours of music business guides and criticism than any person could hope to devour in one lifetime. We haven’t tested that theory, but we’re pretty sure it’s accurate.

There are more than enough content creators releasing quality videos regularly on YouTube for everyone to find the channel(s) that suit their learning style the best. We could not hope to bring together all the channels worth checking out, but we have gathered a handful of picks that we believe to be worthy of your time. They offer everything from music criticism to history lessons, industry stories, and essential step-by-step guides to navigating the music business as a whole. Enjoy!

Punk Rock MBA

Finn McKenty is more punk rock than you. Lucky for us, he’s sharing his knowledge of punk and all things alternative with anyone willing to give him attention. Punk Rock MBA offers an in-depth look at the history of punk, rock, metal, and numerous niche areas of alternative/underground music, as well as lessons learned from important moments in music history. Most videos McKenty releases play like short documentaries, each with his unique perspective on a moment in music that more mainstream publications often overlook. He also recruits seasoned professionals to weigh in on the latest music from aspiring musicians, as well as commentary on the recent industry trends that may be shaping the future of the business.

McKenty is the perfect entry point for anyone new to YouTube, and also those hoping to improve their careers as musicians. As he explains on his channel’s about page, his goal is to offer “information, inspiration, and hopefully entertainment for people who want to live life on their own terms.”

The Needle Drop

Some of you may be questioning how a music critic ended up on a list intended for industry professionals. The answer is simple: Anthony Fantano (aka The Needle Drop) understands the digital generation. Unlike many of his industry careers, Fantano has found a way to connect with audiences in an increasingly saturated marketplace by sharing his informed opinions on a wide variety of music. His influence is so great, in fact, that numerous musicians have referenced his work in their own creative endeavors. For example, you may have seen Fantano’s animated cameo in the “Old Town Road” remix video from Lil Nas X featuring Young Thug and Mason Ramsey.

There are ten-thousand articles claiming that professional criticism is dead in the age of social media, but The Needle Drop is proof those hot takes are wrong. Fantano’s reviews often garner thousands of reviews within minutes of going live, and he’s using that platform to expose people to music they may otherwise have never given a chance. Anyone hoping to influence others through their work in music would be wise to follow The Needle Drop because no one else in this business has done nearly as good of a job building a community around their voice as Anthony Fantano has accomplished with his channel.

Music Biz

James Shotwell wants to do everything before his time in music is done. After opening a venue in his hometown with a grant from the city council at fourteen, Shotwell tried his hand at everything from touring to promotion before he even graduated college. Since then, he’s written for some of the biggest publications in music (including Alternative Press and Rolling Stone), ran a record label, traveled with Warped Tour, spoken at major industry events (SXSW, LAUNCH Music Conference, Music Biz), and spread the word about the power of promotional distribution.

On Music Biz, which is powered by Haulix, Shotwell shares his knowledge on how professionals and musicians alike can build a successful career in the entertainment business. He also explains the stories behind the biggest headlines in the music industry, as well as in-depth conversations with a wide array of industry professionals.

Brand Man

Sean Taylor is a music branding and marketing expert who, according to his website, is ‘working to build a platform that closes the knowledge gap for aspiring artists’ On his Youtube-channel, Sean shares information about branding, growing your career and building a fan base. His focus usually revolves around the hip-hop and rap genres, but the lessons shared can easily be applied to any area of music.

What we love about Taylor’s content is his energy and the way he often utilizes the knowledge of other industry professionals to make the most of the topics he discusses. Whether that means pulling content from his own podcast or referencing quotes made by musicians in other interviews, Taylor grounds his lessons in examples pulled from the real world. That approach makes it clear that anyone can succeed in this business as long as they are willing to put in the work required to get ahead.

Berklee Online

Talk about a music business education without the burden of student debt. Berklee Online is the official YouTube channel of Boston’s iconic Berklee College of Music. With world-renowned faculty and unparalleled networking opportunities, Berklee Online brings the best of Berklee to students around the globe, for free.

More than any other channel on this list, Berklee Online offers an education portal for those unable or unwilling to pay for school. They do post about courses available through them, but the majority of the videos offer industry advice and analysis from experts that other content creators could never reach. The content shared by Berklee Online is polished, informative, and above all entertaining. You don’t want to miss out.

Categories
News

VIDEO: How to promote your unreleased music

A smart marketing campaign may propel your next release into the spotlight, but you can’t get there without actionable data.

Music promotion is harder than it used to be, and it’s growing increasingly difficult with each passing day. The old method of compiling a list of contacts that artists then send a generic email to with a single link to Soundcloud or Dropbox page rarely produces results. Even worse, the results such efforts do produce are hard to quantify. Here’s an example:

Let’s say I have a new single to promote ahead of its official release. I upload the song to Soundcloud, set the stream to private, and then send the share link the service offers to 500 media contacts. After a few days, I check and discover the song has 250 plays. That information is good to know, but there are many questions Soundcloud cannot help me answer: Who listened to the song? How many times did they listen to the song? Did anyone start the track, but not finish it? And if so, who?

While the low cost of Soundcloud or Dropbox has long been attractive to artists on tight budgets, the use of such services requires talent to sacrifice the most valuable thing in promotion: Data. 

In this episode of Music Biz 101, host James Shotwell addresses the drawbacks to promoting music on Soundcloud and offers a low-cost alternative method of promotion that is used by everyone from Chance The Rapper to Metallica.

You can join Haulix today and receive your first month of service free. Cancel anytime during that trial period and your credit card will not be charged.

Categories
Artist Advice Editorials Haulix Industry News News

VIDEO: What artists can learn from Beyoncé’s Homecoming special

Beyoncé is a once in a generation talent, but there is something artists and professionals at every level of music can learn from her latest documentary.

It is hard to imagine anyone connected to the internet is unaware that Beyoncé recently released her first concert film. Homecoming arrived exclusively on Netflix in mid-April and immediately became a global sensation. The film, which takes an in-depth look at Bey’s 2018 headlining performance at Coachella, has been hailed by critics and fans alike as a definitive piece of pop culture history. It’s a time capsule of sorts, highlighting two performances that confirmed the legend of Beyoncé and secured her place in pop music history for generations to come.

Unfortunately, no amount of work you or I will ever do can make us Beyoncé. She is a singular force of nature that never has and never will be duplicated. We can, however, learn from the experiences documented in Homecoming and become better music professionals.

In this episode of Music Biz 101, host James Shotwell breaks down three lessons artists from all walks of life can learn from the artist and her film, as well as how music professionals can improve their skills by joining the BeyHive. Take a look:

Homecoming is available now on Netflix worldwide.

Categories
Artist Advice Business Advice Editorials Haulix

VIDEO: The Maine, 8123, and the value of community

An American rock band called The Maine has found a way to succeed that other artists should use to get ahead.

Marketing is everything in music today. Everyone knows this, but very few know how to make their marketing efforts stand out from the noise being created by their peers and the competition they have yet to know. Blogs like the one you’re reading now can help. We post a lot of articles about getting ahead and becoming known. The one thing we cannot teach, however, is the one thing everyone needs: Organic connection.

is an American rock band from Tempe, AZ. The group started their career as much groups do by working with labels, but the better part of the last decade they’ve been fully DIY. That decision has made all the difference in the trajectory of their career, and it has afforded them a unique opportunity to develop a thriving community around their music with those who love them the most. In the latest installment of our Music Biz 101 video series, we examine how got here, and why other artists should follow their lead.

will release their new album, You Are OK, on March 29. You can learn about the album by listening to our recent podcast with frontman John O’Callaghan below:

https://soundcloud.com/inside-music-podcast/155-the-maine-john-ocallaghan

Categories
News

11 SXSW Music Panels You Absolutely Must Attend

This blog exists to promote the future of the music industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your music-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Welcome to March! Having survived the wintery tundra most of the world refers to as January and February, we have finally arrived at the third month of the new year. There is a good chance the cold that has our country in a stranglehold will largely remain in place during the weeks ahead, but for those of us in the industry we know that this month does provide a temporary escape for those able to afford a week in Texas. South By Southwest, otherwise known as the world’s largest music conference and festival, takes place the second and third week of this month. We’ll be on site from March 17 all the way until March 22, and we hope any of you planning to attend will make it a point to say hello. In order to do that however, you will likely have to find us as we move from panel to panel throughout each day.

Concerts and screenings always steal the spotlight during SXSW, but the panels (sometimes referred to as ‘sessions’) are where to real work is accomplished. It’s in these gatherings, which can range from one on one chats to one speaker addressing hundreds at a time, that the state of the industry is openly discussed, questioned, and (hopefully) made better. We will be conveying much of the information we gain through these sessions on the blog, but we’ll be the first to tell you that our secondhand advice is nothing compared to getting your information from its original source. With that in mind, we’ve settled on a list of 11 panels we feel everyone who wants a leg up in this industry should attend. This isn’t to say the rest of the panels offered are subpar, but these topics are one we feel passionately about, and we’re excited to see how some of the industry’s greatest minds hope to see the conversation around these ideas evolve moving forward.

1. Why Curation Will Save the Music Industry

When: Wednesday, March 18 (330-430PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 15)

What: With over 20 million songs available instantly to all of us through various streaming and download services, the way we consume music has changed drastically. The average user is confronted with an abundance of music at their disposal with limited means to navigate. We will highlight why we need human editorial guidance in times of algorithms and automated recommendations.

2. Street Team 2.0: Digital Marketing For Music

When: Friday, March 20 (1230-130PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 15)

What: The “Street Team” model was originally developed as an affordable and highly effective bridge to a target audience that did not require the traditional outlets found in print, radio, television, and large scale distribution deals. Today, budgets are required to do more. Labels and artists must be efficient, creative and effective in leveraging technology and reaching fans. This requires labels and especially legacy artists to adapt to a start up culture where music is the driver for brand extensions and artists see themselves as brands that are constantly engaging their fans. What would take deep pockets to reach the masses, can now be done with the use of the internet and social media.

3. Behind The Curtain: How Data is Changing The Modern Music Business

When: Thursday, March 19 (2-3PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 17B)

What: What data is helping to shape the music industry decisions in today’s new world? Explore the new analytics that are arming managers, labels, agents and brands to make informed decisions on touring, which singles to release and which bands are going to be the next big thing.

4. Takin’ Care of Bits-ness: Reshaping Music Data

When: Thursday, March 19 (330-430PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 15)

What: The global reach of digital is creating opportunities for artists and music companies to maximize their value by cutting deals across a variety of territories, labels, and publishing partners. But many players are missing out because of their primitive practices and poor data management. The new rules are empowering progressive teams and enslaving those stuck in the past. This panel will showcase processes and technologies forward-thinking companies are using to build leverage by harnessing their own data and intellectual property.

5. The New Interactive Music: Music’s Visual Future

When: Wednesday, March 18 (1230-130PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 11AB)

What: What is the successor to the LP, MTV, and YouTube? How will music meld with video, graphics, and interactivity? And will any of it make money? Hear some history, and recent examples of interactive and visual music experiences, and discuss the coming rise of user-generated-content in social music video platforms, which just this year eclipsed official music videos in both popularity and monetization.

6. Next Phase of Digital Discovery & Content Curation

When: Wednesday, March 18 (11AM-12PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 12AB)

What: Discovery is still broke, with arguments both for and against human and technological curation, a successful balance exists that incorporates both methods to create the ultimate digital jukebox. Learn more about the continued conversation on creating the best methods for content curation.

7. 24/7 Fan Engagement in the 21st Century

When: Thursday, March 19 (5-6PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 15)

What: You mean it’s not enough for me to just make music and play for the people? Now I have to “surprise” fans in order to keep “the love” alive? 200 people signed up to my emails, I have 50 views on YouTube, no one interacts with my tweets, Facebook blocks my posts (that or my friends are ignoring me), my parents are the only people that heart my Instagrams, AND I’m supposed to compete with a bunch of 12 year olds for dominance on Vine? FML. We speak with mgmt teams about what it takes to keep the love flowing 24/7.

8. The Art of the Interview

When: Friday, March 20 (5-6PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 18D)

What: As an artist, what can you say in an interview that will get the world’s attention? What does your audience want to find out from you? How does one balance privacy with the need to catch the attention of editors, bloggers, podcasters, and fans? As media, how should one prepare for an interview? How do you get a great interview out of an artist uninterested in speaking with you? We’ll deconstruct the art-form from both sides of the microphone, providing an excellent discussion about what works, and what doesn’t. Some techniques accepted as standard will be dismissed and an update of the art-form for new technologies is discussed.

9. Fest Forward: The Future of Music Festivals

When: Friday, March 20 (2-3PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 17A)

What: There’s a renaissance underway in the music festival space. From wearables to mobile ticketing technology and beyond, high tech has enabled today’s music festivals to be virtually boundless. Music festivals around the world are seeing significant new commercial and experiential booms, and there’s more interest in attending communal music experiences than ever. Hear a new analysis of all social media conversation on music festivals in 2014, the drivers behind the boom, and what lies ahead.

10. Give It Away Now: The “Value” In Free Music

When: Thursday, March 19 (1230-130PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (Room 15)

What: Free music is everywhere. Music fans listen to Pandora and Spotify all day at no cost to them. Publishers grant gratis synch licenses to low budget productions for promotional value. Across the industry, artists, songwriters and those who represent them are bombarded with “opportunities” to give their intellectual property away, and many do for various reasons. Granting access to music for free or at rock bottom fees has become standard in the industry; whereas the significant implications of doing so remain largely unexamined. We’ll take a look at how giving music away can change the course of your career or business and how to use the practice to your advantage.

11. I’ve Got 99 Problems, But PR Ain’t One

When: Friday, March 20 (330-430PM)
Where: Austin Convention Center (11AB)

What: For any artist, transitioning from home grown media efforts to hiring a publicist or marketing expert can be a challenge. From helping form their image/brand to handling an entire press tour, most artists do not know what to expect when they allow agencies or labels to take the reins on promotional efforts. In addition, as important as it is to provide these services for your client, keeping them informed and confident in their work is the number one priority of the everyday publicist’s job. We will explore the art of client relations and educating musicians on what it means to have a publicist.

For more information on SXSW, as well as a complete guide to every panel that will be held, click here.

Categories
News

Haulix Live! Come See Our Panel At LAUNCH Music Conference

This is some news we have been anxiously waiting to share for some time now. We told you 2015 would be our biggest year to date, and part of making that goal a reality includes bringing the educational efforts found on the blog into conferences, panels, and related industry discussions across the nation. Haulix Live, which is essentially just a catchy way of saying we’re hosting a panel about piracy and the ways it can be combatted in the year ahead, will premiere at the LAUNCH music conference in Lancaster, PA this April. The first wave of performers and panelists were just announced, so we thought we’d share the entire release in case any of you care to join us.

Lancaster, PA | January 12, 2015 –  Over the past seven years, Launch Music Conference has welcomed some of today’s top musicians and music executives to speak and perform to a crowd of artists and industry go-getters. Launch Music Conference is thrilled to be back with a new weekend event filled with enticing panels and showcases on April 23rd – 26th at the Lancaster County Convention Center and surrounding venues. Founder, Jeremy Weiss had this to say about the forthcoming event: 

“By combining both a music conference and festival, LAUNCH brings together two aspects of the music industry for one exciting weekend in beautiful historic Downtown Lancaster, PA! With the variety of performers and events, there’s something for everyone going on during LAUNCH – for the most casual music fan to the most die-hard!”

Today, Launch Music Conference is thrilled to announce their first wave of panelists, artists and seminars including: Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour), Mike Mowry (Outerloop Management), David Silbaugh (Milwaukee Summerfest), Tim Borror (The Agency Group), Lou Plaia (Reverbnation), Randy Nichols (Force MGMT), James Shotwell (Haulix), Jen Kellogg (T.E.I), Joyce Dollinger (Ent. Attorney) with performances by Badfish, Atreyu, and Mo Lowda and The Humble and breakout session with Vocal Coach Deborah “Zuke” Smith (Frank Iero, The Voice). 

Launch Music Conference is sponsored by Heineken, Fireball, Dr. McGillicuddy’s, Disc Makers, Millersville University, Strongbow, Lancaster County Convention Center, Substream Music Press, Atomic, Herr’s, The City of Lancaster, The Catalyst Publicity Group, CI, dropcards, Gerhart Coffee, and more to be announced.
 
Artists and attendees can purchase weekend badges at LaunchMusicConference.com!

Launch Music Conference

Where: Lancaster, PA

Dates: April 23rd – 26th

Marquee Events:

April 24th – Atreyu – Freedom Hall/Lancaster County Convention Center

April 24th – Badfish – Chameleon Club

April 25th – Mo Lowda – Tellus 360

Panelists (More announcements to come):

Kevin Lyman – Vans Warped Tour / Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest

Mike Mowery – Outerloop Management

David Silbaugh – Milwaukee Summerfest

Tim Borror – The Agency Group

Jen Kellog – Vans Warped Tour / The Event Institute 

Lou Plaia – Reverbnation

Randy Nicholas – Force Management

James Shotwell – Haulix

Joyce Dollinger – Dollinger, Gonski & Grossman

Ticket/Registration Links:

LAUNCH Registration/VIP – http://bit.ly/LAUNCH15-WKND-VIP

Friday Badge – http://bit.ly/LAUNCH15-FRI

Saturday Badge – http://bit.ly/LAUNCH15-SAT

Categories
News

Industry Spotlight: Adam Zeuske (Semplice Lessons)

Hello, everyone! I know we don’t usually post interview on Friday, but we figured we’d try something different just to see how things go. We never really discuss the education side of the music business, but today that begins to change. If you’re an educator who is interested in talking about your adventures in music, please contact us using the information below.

This site exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

We spend a lot of time talking about record labels, publicity, and the struggles of being an artist, but there is a lot more to the music business than those three things. Teaching, especially private lessons, is one of the most popular ways for people to get professionally involved with music. Not everyone can make this effort a full time job, but those who have developed proficiency in one or more instruments, including the ability to sing, can supplement a nice portion of their income by instructing others. The only problem is, many people who attempt to become teachers struggle with handling the administrative side of owning a business, which is where the person at the center of today’s feature found his niche.

Adam Zeuske is a web developer and lifelong music fan who has built a reputation for crafting high quality, state-of-the-art tools for various companies around the world. His latest project, Semplice Lessons, was inspired by his wife. She makes a living as a private music teacher, but as her business was beginning to develop she was having troubles staying on top of the various administrative duties that come with being your own boss, including booking, billing, and client communication. Adam realized that a lot these issues could be solved by streamlining the administrative side of his wife’s work, and that initial thought is what lead to Semplice Lessons being born. Now, with only a few clicks, music instructors around the world can access an administrative platform built specifically with their needs in mind. It’s efficient, time-saving, and impeccably well designed. 

When we learned of Adam’s efforts, we knew we wanted to feature him on this blog. His work is not the kind of thing that often gets highlighted, but we feel it’s important to make people aware this technology exists. Also, it’s important for aspiring professionals to know roles like the one Adam has taken exist within the music business. Just because you love music doesn’t mean you have to be either a musician, label staffer, publicist, booking agent, talent manager, or journalist. There are hundreds, if not thousands of roles you can choose from, and those who think outside the box like Adam has with Semplice are generally the ones who become most successful later in life. He is just as inspiring as his work, and we’re thrilled to share his story with all of you today.

H: Hello, Adam. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. How is December treating you so far? I hear it can be harsh in Minnesota this time of year.

A:  Thanks, James!  It’s great to be able to talk with you today.  Winter has been great this year.  Minnesota can be harsh, but the crisp air, snow and the beautiful lakes more than make up for the chilly weather.  If nothing else, it sure makes one appreciate the hot summer!

H: Your interview is kind of unique. We typically speak with people who are either writing about or working directly with musicians on a daily basis, if not musicians themselves. You, however, work with the people who make musicians, and by that I mean music instructors. Can you tell us a bit about your latest venture, Semplice Lessons?

A:  I’d love to!  Inspired by my wife and other music lesson instructors I know, I wanted to make a web site that would make the administration of a private lesson studio super easy.  I saw how much time was spent on the administration of a studio, from managing a schedule, to communication, to the financial aspect of payment collection.  Semplice Lessons was born from an idea that a simple, well organized website could free up a great deal of time for lesson instructors.

H: Music education is something we are very passionate about at Haulix. What initially attracted you to the world of education, and I guess perhaps more importantly – the world of online education?

A:  Firsthand observation of people who actually run a private lesson studio, both music and other academic subjects (which is my background…math!) made me think I could apply my programming knowledge in a way that could directly impact the lives of people who make such a big difference in our students’ lives.

For example, I saw tons of time spent accounting for payment checks and cash, running to the bank to deposit payments, and authoring studio wide emails. I thought I could help out with the time consuming work that goes into running a private lesson studio.  I had no idea how much time was spent just making sure checks were made out to the right name, or that checks were made out on time.  And believe it or not, this doesn’t just solve instructors’ challenges.  In talking with students’ parents, they were really pleased their child had a way of looking at their lesson schedule and those of their peers.  Furthermore, lesson payments no longer required parents to write a check, or pull cash from an ATM before the lesson.  They just signed up online with their credit card, a process they are already familiar with, and life becomes easier for them too.  It sure is fun to watch the parents benefit from the website as well!

H: What does your platform offer educators that cannot be found through the tools already made available from your competitors? What does it offer students?

A:  I think the main difference is the simplicity of its layout and ease-of-use, especially in the payment management segment.  If the student’s parents or guardians have a credit card, and the instructor has a checking/savings account, Semplice allows the instructor to charge their students’ credit cards directly for payments.  Those lesson fees then land in the instructor’s bank account!  No third party payment vehicles…just credit cards and bank accounts, a process everyone is already familiar with, thanks to the proliferation of online shopping, banking, electronic music distribution, etc.

When an instructor creates a studio on Semplice, a public website is created for them.  This allows students to sign in to the studio’s site, enter their credit card for payment information, request a lesson swap with another student, signify if they are going to potentially miss a lesson, view their schedule, or check out other neat studio communications and information!

H: How long ago did you launch this company?

A:  Semplice Lessons was launched at the end of August, 2014.  It has enjoyed an exciting beta period, and I am striving to make sure it suits the needs of all the students and lesson instructors.

H: I know it may be a bit early to talk longterm plans, but looking ahead to the new year can you tell us a few things we can expect from Semplice Lessons?

A:  That’s a fun question!  I can tell you about some of my plans, but the feedback from my customers will play a big part of what gets put on the plan for this year.  The best part of having a company like this is learning how the website is _actually_ used compared to what my vision was or is.  The creativity of this customer base never ceases to amaze me.

Mainly, I want to improve on the notification part of Semplice.  Interesting things happen in a bunch of areas of site, both automatically and at the instructor’s request.  I would like to increase the transparency of such events while keeping the site easy to use and informational at-a-glance.

H: As the creator of this company, I’m sure you have some goals Semplice over the next year as well. Care to share some of those?

A:  Definitely!  First, as I mentioned before, I would like to improve on the notifications so that an instructor or student can see the status of events that happen within Semplice, like email, payments, or scheduling changes.

Second, I am always looking to improve the layout of the existing site to better align it with the actual tasks an instructor or student performs on the site.  

Finally, I want to make sure the site tells _me_ what is going on!  Making a real difference in the lives of these instructors provides an enormous amount of satisfaction.  When a support email comes across, I like to know that the technical infrastructure is in place to make a quick, accurate diagnosis and resolve any potential issues.

H: If someone reading this right now is interested in learning more about Semplice, or perhaps even desiring to sign up for your service, what should they do next?

A:  I would say definitely head out to https://semplicelessons.com and peek at the features page!  If that doesn’t answer any questions, definitely shoot us an email at features@semplicelessons.com or support@semplicelessons.com.  We will do our best to respond promptly!  Someone could also hit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/semplicelessons.

If it looks like Semplice would solve tons (or even just some) of their lesson studio’s issues, or make things easier for them by freeing up time or automating some of those more difficult manual processes, they should start the process of creating an online studio by signing up!  The first 30 days are free!

H: Thank you for taking time to speak with us today, Adam. I wish you the best of luck in the future. Do you have any final thoughts or comments that you would like to share with our readers?

A:  Thank you so much, James, for the opportunity to share this new venture!  I wish Haulix the best as well, as it succeeds in providing best-in-class security and promotional material and contact management!

My final thought is that I would encourage anyone who thinks this site would be beneficial to their studio, music or otherwise, to give it a shot or reach out to us at Semplice and ask questions!  The more successful our instructors are, the better off they and our children will be, and that’s just a good thing!

Categories
News

Journalism Tips #15: ‘How To Spend Your Summer Vacation’

Thank you for joining us for another installment in our our ongoing Journalism Tips series. We started this column as a way to help aspiring writers get their start in music, but over the couple months we have been evolving into a place writers come to have their questions about life in the business answered. Today we are continuing that effort with a response to a question posed by multiple reader in regards to how aspiring writers can make the most of their summer vacation. If you have any questions about developing as a writer/blogger in music, please do not hesitate email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Many of our readers are wrapping up another year of school this month or next, and if they’re fortunate enough to not absolutely have to find work right away their are several weeks of childlike freedom ahead. It’s an exciting time to be young, and for the young it’s an important time to be thinking about the future. Advertisers will tell you to embrace the now or otherwise live in the present, but if you want to make a career for yourself in the music business you should see the arrival of summer vacation as a door to opportunity that only needs your drive and passion to be kicked wide open. I cannot tell you exactly what you need to do in order to make yourself noticed by the industry at large, but by following the follows tips you will position yourself for success down the line. Making the most of that positioning and networking with the people you meet through those efforts is entirely up to you.

Make a list of achievable goals and set dates for each task to be accomplished.

There is no real limit to what you can accomplish this summer, but if you do not have an idea of what you are trying to achieve from the start you are bound to spend days, if not weeks spinning your wheels with indecision. If you want to be a writer, this means setting goals for the amount of content created, as well as the dates that you plan to have certain festival/tour coverage complete. For example, those who plan to attend Vans Warped Tour on July 1 could set a goal to have all interviews and related live coverage published within 10 days of the event.

Find an internship.

The is no overstating the profound impact a great internship can have on your career trajectory. These internships does not have to be directly related to journalism, but it should be in an area of the music industry that interests you. After all, there is always a chance you will not ultimately become a music writer. Internships offer you an opportunity to explore other areas of music, such as publicity and digital marketing, where many of the skills used for writing can be leveraged. This not only gives you more options for your post education career, but it also provides you with a more well rounded understanding of how the industry functions.

Use Festival Coverage To Refine Your Voice

Summer music writing is synonymous with festival coverage, and in 2014 it’s hard to go more than 3 or 4 days without a major music event kicking off somewhere across the continental United States. Many of these festivals feature similar lineups, which will no doubt result in redundant coverage from blogs and magazines who were granted press badges just so they could spend their mornings summarizing the same set lists and performances delivered by at every festival that came before through a handful of hit-or-miss pictures and interviews. We will probably never reach a point where this type of coverage is not commonplace, but that does not mean that it’s the type of content you have to create in order to make an impact at these events. In fact, the content that typically gets the most attention are the articles that find a way to be unique in a sea of commonality. Summarize set lists and complete interviews if you must, but take the time to soak in the festival environment and convey it to your readers through editorial efforts. Write about what you saw, felt, smelled, tasted, touched, thought, and experienced. Tell them what it was like for you specifically, and don’t be afraid to tell the truth. If the festival was crowded or the sound was terrible go ahead and let the world know. Likewise, if something surprises you in a good way, even small things, highlight them as well. Every event has pros and cons. Don’t gloss over the experience.

Challenge yourself to write about something different

Writers, like musicians, have a bad habit of getting overly comfortable with material that works and hesitating whenever the idea of trying something new is presented. While there may always be a place in this world for someone who is the most well versed individual on one particular topic, the growing trend in entertainment writing is sites and magazines recruiting people who are well versed on a variety of topics. If you’re into music, that means being able to write about an up and coming country act with the same sincerity and intelligent voice as you would the next big pop punk outfit. It could also mean doing video interviews and writing album reviews, or otherwise switching the type of media you are creating while still speaking in an intelligent and welcoming voice. This summer, challenge yourself to step outside your professional comfort zone and surround yourself with material that will make you actually work. Find events and/or albums that require research, thought, and time to properly analyze, then go out and create that content. Buy a camera and take photos at every event you write a live review for instead of bringing along a photographer. Start a podcast. Interview a rapper. Whatever it is you have always thought you would never do, now is the time to toss care to the wind and give the unknown an honest attempt. You never know what you might learn about yourself.

Network. Network. Network.

No matter where you go or what you choose to write about this summer, you need to make it a point to introduce yourself to everyone you can and be as nice as humanly possible. You should also work on printing business cards as soon as possible, even if you have no real business to promote. You’re promoting yourself at these events, even if you feel like you’re only there to see a show. You’re not. In reality, especially at festivals, you’re representing your personal brand to every concert attendee, artist, manager, and industry professional who happens to be on site. Holding doors and buying drinks for the right people may open more doors than any well written article, and all it takes is putting others before yourself. Ask people who they are and what they do, but also do not be afraid to share your current activities and goals. Tell them what you are working towards and who knows? They may be able to help.

Build an online portfolio and remember to keep it updated

The internet has made it incredibly simple for people with an interest in writing to begin sharing their content with the world without spending anything at all beyond the basic cost of internet (which might not be a factor in places with free public wifi). Writers love free platforms and free promotion, but if you want to properly represent yourself online it’s worth finding $100 to spend on a custom domain and site hosting fees. Companies like Squarespace and Wix make it incredibly easy to build high quality websites in no time at all, and if you know the right phrases to Google you can often find offer codes to make those reasonably priced services even more affordable. There is a myth amongst writers in the digital age that if they take time off from creating content they will slip into the realm of forgotten people simply because the demand for new material is so high, but it is incredibly important that writers set aside time to carve out their own, professionally-focused corner of the internet. You need a place where people who are interested in working with you can find links to your work, as well as a resume, bio, contact information, and whatever else you feel obliged to share about yourself with the world. If you want an example, click here to see the portfolio of yours truly (Haulix James).

Whatever this summer, remember this: No one notices the aspiring professional who keeps to themselves and does the same thing every day. The people who makes big moves in this industry find the strength and courage within to make a change long before anyone else ever takes notice. Make this summer the time when you take life by the reigns and begin to truly leave your mark on this industry. The world is yours.

Categories
News

Haulix Advice: Defining the roles of a manager, tour manager, publicist, & lawyer

Hello and welcome to return of our Haulix Advice series. This column is dedicated to helping developing artists and industry professionals navigate the waters of a DIY career in music. If you have an idea for a future installment of this series, or if you have a question you’d like us to tackle in the coming weeks, do not hesitate to email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts.

As your career in music begins to develop, you will eventually reach a point where you will want to at least consider hiring other people, such as publicists and managers, to work with and for your music. This can be a very exciting and fast-paced time if you surround yourself with the right team, and in this post we aim to help you understand the roles those individuals will fill so that you can determine what you need when the time comes.

In order to clarify their roles, I asked Jen Appel, founder of The Catalyst Publicity Group, What artist’s expectations should be in regards to the work performed by managers, tour managers, publicists, and lawyers. This is what Jen had to say:

Manager: When a band can no longer scout for new opportunities at the level they are at or handle their current work load a manager would be the next best step. A manager can be as in depth as arranging the day to day duties of each member to shopping for labels and networking the band around the industry professionals. A band should only actively seek management assistance when necessary. Having the band well organized and in place before reaching out for management will only make the working relationship a lot easier.

Tour Manager: A tour manager represents the band while on the road. The tour manager is the right hand man for the manager, merch person, crew and publicist. They are in charge of many items while on tour such as making sure the band arrives at the venue on time, they get paid at the end of night, and set up any press while on the road.

Publicist: A publicist is necessary to bring on to a bands team once all assets are solidified (music, branding). A band shouldn’t approach a PR team if they have no content ready to release. Once a band has a nice marketing package ready to go and they feel they’ve hit a wall with setting up their own interviews a PR team can help package a marketing plan together and focus on securing press. The goal of a publicist is to properly present the band to the public/press/fans.

Lawyer: A lawyer is a great person to have on a team when it is necessary. A lawyer is able to negotiate contract deals on behalf of a band and make sure that a band isn’t get screwed over in a deal. The lawyer looks after the bands best interest and is there to lend advice along the way.

It’s important to note that every business relationship is different and the deals you develop with the individuals you choose to surround yourself with may not match these guidelines exactly. Before adding anyone to your team take time to figure out exactly what you want to accomplish and research who would be be suited to assist you in accomplishing that task.

Exit mobile version